New Zealand back Sonny Bill Williams has warned previous results will have no
bearing on Sunday's World Cup final.

France, hit by rumours of a rift between players and management, lost two pool matches, to New Zealand (37-17) and Tonga (19-14), before eliminating a lamentable England in the last eight and then just doing enough to defeat 14-man Wales 9-8 in the semi-finals.

The All Blacks, however, finished their pool play unbeaten and impressed again in knockout wins over Argentina and Australia, making the hosts firm favourites for the final at an Eden Park ground where they haven't lost since 1994.

"You can play against one side one week and then you play against them a couple of weeks later and they're a different team," Williams said. "Past form means nothing.

"Their scrum is up there with the best in the world, their line-out is not too bad either and their backs are unpredictable.

"Expect the unexpected. They can shock us, as they've done in past World Cups."

Versatile back Williams made his name in rugby league, spending five years in Australia playing for the Canterbury Bulldogs, including winning the NRL grand final in 2004 at the age of 18 and going on to win seven Kiwi league caps.

And the 26 year-old, who broke his Bulldogs contract in a high-profile transfer to French Top 14 club Toulon before coming back to New Zealand in a bid to make the All Blacks squad, is being coy on his immediate future.

"I haven't really thought too much about after the World Cup," he said.

"I've just been having so much fun, going from week to week trying to stay alive and stay in the team. That's been the whole focus. This Sunday is the big one and hopefully we can win it, because I think we deserve to."